I will be using this site to document progress on building a "Virtual" Network Environment.  My goal is to create a fully functional network environment (DNS, DHCP, Internet access etc) as well as network management (Syslog, NTP, SNMP etc).  The purpose is two fold.  Most of my career I've been focused on the functional aspect of the network, getting packets from point a to point b.  In order to expand my knowledge, I feel like I need to expand the boundaries of my focus.  Not only do I want to experiment with routing protocols, but I want to get into the network services that as a layer 3 person I've taken for granted.  Learning how to build a functioning network environment from the ground up will help me do this.

The second goal I have for this project is to provide myself a functional lab environment in order to develop applications that will enable myself, and hopefully others, to better manage a corporate network.  In addition, I plan on learning new programming languages and having a functional network to test on will aid me greatly.

 I'm using Dynamips / Dynagen / GNS3 for the Virtual routers.  PEMU tied into GNS will be my virtual firewalls.  VMware server will be used to run virtual servers and workstations.